Romanzo Criminale

An ambitious and very long Italian film that follows the rise and fall of a trio of smalltime criminals who use the proceeds of a kidnapping to boost their bid to take over Rome's underworld. It's adapted from a bestselling novel by a magistrate, Giancarlo De Cataldo, who also wrote the screenplay. The labyrinthine plot, broken down into three separate biographies, includes real-life background from the Red Brigades era, including the 1978 kidnapping of Aldo Moro and the terrorist bombing of Bologna station in 1980. This is a fast-moving thriller involving corrupt politicians and intelligence officers which is lean and unobtrusively directed by Michele Placido, and convincingly acted.

At 152 minutes, it's epic in length as well as scale. It has been likened to Coppola and Scorsese, naturally enough, for the fact that it tries to give a gangster picture some scope and depth, as well as plenty of blood. And it remains very Italian, not least in its two lead female roles, as near to a Madonna and whore as you're going to come: the good girl even studies fine art, majoring in the art world's own murderous brawler, Caravaggio (she's played by art student Jasmine Trinca, suggesting some input in her role). The title, by the way, may sound glamorous, but translates simply as "Crime Novel".